creeeeeeeekeeeeeet

[BWFC_Insane]

It's the fakeness of it all that I can't bear. Got to be seen to be doing something. Some nasty little sh*t goes trawling through old tweets looking for gold, waits for the most "explosive" time to release them then gets to pat themselves on the back for being the good guy.

Meanwhile England fans in Middlesbrough booing taking the knee passes by unmentioned and across the country people who think those things now pass by untroubled and nothing is done to change a culture where young lads think that kind of "joke" passes for wit and a personality.

Next week no-one remembers any of it and we all move on to the next worst person ever.

Yeah I agree entirely. But the problem is we have a government hell bent on igniting a culture war so tackling the booing of the knee is virtually impossible in this environment. Because ultimately those that defend said actions with 'but BLM are a political movement' will find at least some tacit level of support from the government or at the very least receive a nice big nod and wink.

So the environment is incredibly challenging right now. And the idiots trawling tweets know this and it just spurs them on. Like I say, OR just needs a short piece of education and that's it done with for me. But I can see why the ECB would be troubled by it. I'd say like you that what he posted was stupid and unpleasant but less of an issue than the booing of taking the knee that is going on for the aforementioned reasons.

[Bruce Rioja]

Anyway, back to the cricket. Great to see us take Nicholls' wicket as he was just pushing on nicely.

I don't know if you've seen the highlights from yesterday, but if you haven't then you really ought just to see some of Conway's stroke play. The grace with which he's pushing fours, his eye and execution when it comes to finding the gaps and his all round demeanour are a joy to watch, regardless as to who he's playing for/against.
Seen a couple of his fours from this morning which were simply more of the same.
The guy looks like he'd be happy to bat for five days.

[TANGODANCER]

N.Z. 314 - 7 at lunch. Much more like it. Game on.

[Bruce Rioja]

N.Z. 314 - 7 at lunch. Much more like it. Game on.

Indeed. 330/8 now.

I was reading earlier that the NZ No. 9, Kyle Jamieson, has a test average of 57

Taking nothing away from either Robinson or Wood, I'm glad to see that they're not as good at batting down the order as I'd feared

[TANGODANCER]

378 is our first innings target. Hat (cap) off to Conway's 200.

[BWFC_Insane]

England will take that. So will New Zealand. Now down to how we bat.

Good side NZ so if we run them close it will be reasonable I think.

[BWFC_Insane]

England true to form are 18-2. Our batting really is atrocious.

[Worthy4England]

Stokes will save us with a double ton! Oh....

[TANGODANCER]

England true to form are 18-2. Our batting really is atrocious.

N.Z, 9 batsmen, scored 170, Conway 200. Doesn't make them invincible.

[BWFC_Insane]

England true to form are 18-2. Our batting really is atrocious.

N.Z, 9 batsmen, scored 170, Conway 200. Doesn't make them invincible.

I mean the pitch is flat. Crawley got out to a terrible shot. I just wish our batting was better but its been pants for a long time now.

NZ are a good side and are swinging the ball far more than we did. Which is unusual.

[Worthy4England]

England true to form are 18-2. Our batting really is atrocious.

N.Z, 9 batsmen, scored 170, Conway 200. Doesn't make them invincible.

I suspect Insano is pointing to yet another poor start.

"In the winter England's first two wickets averaged 25.6 combined. That is the worst England have ever had in any Test season and second worst by any team to have played five Tests in a season."

Doesn't make for a great read, with the Ashes around the corner.

[jimbo]

England true to form are 18-2. Our batting really is atrocious.

N.Z, 9 batsmen, scored 170, Conway 200. Doesn't make them invincible.

I suspect Insano is pointing to yet another poor start.

"In the winter England's first two wickets averaged 25.6 combined. That is the worst England have ever had in any Test season and second worst by any team to have played five Tests in a season."

Doesn't make for a great read, with the Ashes around the corner.

We still can’t find a reliable top 3.

Sibley can dig in but doesn’t often enough. He’s had 5 ducks in the past 12 months.

Crawley has potential but still looks flaky. His magical 267 is an interesting outlier. Take that out and he averages 20 from 19 innings. Not good enough, though the fact he batted so long and so well shows some potential.

Burns has been on a horrible run and was dropped in the winter.

All of that points to Worthy’s stat of us losing our first 2 wickets cheaper than anyone else has ever. If that is happening time and time again, you’re going to lose more tests than you win.

[TANGODANCER]

England true to form are 18-2. Our batting really is atrocious.

N.Z, 9 batsmen, scored 170, Conway 200. Doesn't make them invincible.

I suspect Insano is pointing to yet another poor start.

"In the winter England's first two wickets averaged 25.6 combined. That is the worst England have ever had in any Test season and second worst by any team to have played five Tests in a season."

Doesn't make for a great read, with the Ashes around the corner.

Can't argue Worthy. We're not in a good place right now. Just have to rely on hope.

[Worthy4England]

Relying on hope is no way to prepare for an Ashes series, mate.

[jimbo]

Relying on hope is no way to prepare for an Ashes series, mate.

Not sure he’d qualify to move across to us from the West Indies either.

[TANGODANCER]

Relying on hope is no way to prepare for an Ashes series, mate.

Not sure he’d qualify to move across to us from the West Indies either.

Give me hope Joanna...

[TANGODANCER]

111-2 is a wee bit healthier. Hope we can settle in and carry on the good work. As a commentator remarked, the day was England's, but N.Z are still ahead in the match.

[Worthy4England]

Aye, overall, England's day, but like the New Zealanders, not express scoring. Need to dig in tomorrow and look to bat all day.

[Worthy4England]

Relying on hope is no way to prepare for an Ashes series, mate.

Not sure he’d qualify to move across to us from the West Indies either.

[Worthy4England]

England true to form are 18-2. Our batting really is atrocious.

N.Z, 9 batsmen, scored 170, Conway 200. Doesn't make them invincible.

I suspect Insano is pointing to yet another poor start.

"In the winter England's first two wickets averaged 25.6 combined. That is the worst England have ever had in any Test season and second worst by any team to have played five Tests in a season."

Doesn't make for a great read, with the Ashes around the corner.

We still can’t find a reliable top 3.

Sibley can dig in but doesn’t often enough. He’s had 5 ducks in the past 12 months.

Crawley has potential but still looks flaky. His magical 267 is an interesting outlier. Take that out and he averages 20 from 19 innings. Not good enough, though the fact he batted so long and so well shows some potential.

Burns has been on a horrible run and was dropped in the winter.

All of that points to Worthy’s stat of us losing our first 2 wickets cheaper than anyone else has ever. If that is happening time and time again, you’re going to lose more tests than you win.

It doesn't even look like there's anyone knocking at the door in the County Championship at the moment...Feels like we're stuck with what we have (and Hope of course) or what we've tried and replaced...